Carving out an American niche

                                                                                              Dr Hemingway,Is featured in this new, American Book

                                                   Celebrating Thomas Chippendale 250 years of Influance'

                                                                                                                                           Forward

This book is a product of the remarkable cult of: ‘Thomas Chippendale' that has continued to flourish in the twenty first century. The use of his name and the quantity of popular writing about this shrewd Yorkshire cabinet maker, have become such a part of the common consciousness that the appearance of another book about the man hardly seems to require special comment. But in this instance the circumstances are slightly different. Rene Bilodeau and his co-author Anselm Fraser have gone some way towards exploring the cult itself.

Bilodeau begins his text as a very enthusiastic amateur who explains the process through which his imagination became fired, and then proceeds to take us along on his own voyage of discovery. He has the distinct advantage of a Canadian-united States background, which enables him to view the subject from North America, where Chippendale's style took root with vigor. In many ways, North America is the place where Chippendale's designs were given new life, both in the period immediately after the mid 1750s when the Director first won admiration in the colonies, and later, when the idiosyncratically but confidently interpreted designs became symbols of cultural maturity in a newly independent place- As the author points out, the United States Postal Service recognised the historical significance of Thomas Chippendale by printing a special stamp to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Directors publication in 1754. There was no commemorative issue in the United Kingdom, where cultural maturity was achieved at an earlier date and, consequently, the significance of Chippendale is quite different.

This book is full of interesting images which drive home the point that Chippendale's appeal is visual,

Bilodeau demonstrates that the cabinet maker's designs have transcended 

Not dependent on language. Bilodeau demonstrates that the cabinet maker s designs have transcended the English speaking world and found acceptance in far flung corners of the world. Scholars have proven that the Director was quickly taken up in Russia, France and Scandinavia, but the following pages bring us up to date and provide, with the liberating help of the internet search, far more exotic examples - such as the advertisement of Gallerias Chippendale on the back end of a bus in Mexico City and the whole fascinating subject of Chippendale style in Iberian culture.

The Chippendale International School of Furniture, in Scotland, Has once more provided a focus for such divine worldwide interest in this phenomenon, Students from all over the world, including South America, Japan, and China, triggered by recognition of the name ‘Chippendale’ come together in one creative place to make original contemporary furniture using tested methods on the past, This book views the subject of Thomas Chippendale the elder through the eyes of the craftsman, not the spectacles of the Academic,

             David Jones

              University of St Andrews,

               Scotland

                                                                                                      The Introduction

  In 2005, Ren'e Bilodeau. Auther of ' Celebrating Thomas Chippendale 250 Years of Influance. Contacted me, after seeing my website:chippendale-furniture.com, To encourage my partisipation, In his new Enterprise, His new Book. By agreeing to freature, ' The impossible Chair ' in a prime position,

He had in mind, Little did I reolise at this time, I was being offerer: a Prime Position in this new Manuscript, On pages, 145-149.

 Its a book about modern furniture makers, in the World, all creating ' Rococo Furniture ' From:  ' The Gentleman & Cabinetmakers Director ' Which: includes,7 Chapter : 0ne: The life of Thomas Chippendale. Two: Era of Intellectual Curiosity.Three: The Gentleman & Cabinetmakers Director. Four:Furniture Signature and the Chippendale Style, Five: The Global Reach of the Director. Six: Chippendale's Influance in Modern Times.Seven:Chippendale International School of Furniture, Conclution. Biblioggraphy, Index.

  The purpose is to show the World, The Impossible Chair, First time carved in,  245 YEARS. Carved in cuban mahogany, with pure silk Tapestys, French Polished.  As American Expert, Robert Sack: stated in 2003, Joseph, Your work is 'Exceptional ', Especially the Patna, showing in your  French Polish. 

  I name your work 'THE CHAIR'  yours 'Albert M Sack '.

The Book includes. Rene, States on page 12, My Work:

 One:   Two:  Three: 

Four:The Etching              The Etching.

                                              The Impossible Chair                                           The Ribbon Back chair

Note:page 147, from book.                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Impossible chair.

 (Note: The last line from the Book reads: To enrich his designs and their exequition.

                                                                                        ' Impossible Chiar Visits America '

                                                                                          Joseph Hemingway, freatured in New Book.